CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is defined clinically as a peripheral ne uropathy causing limb weakness that progresses for up to 4 weeks befor e reaching a plateau. The symptoms may be caused by inflammatory demye lination, axonal degeneration, or both. GBS occurs throughout the worl d, with a median incidence of 1.3 cases/100,000 population (range, 0.4 -4.0). Males are more commonly affected than females, and there are pe aks in young adults and the elderly. Theres no clear seasonal associat ion in Western countries, although this may be because the most freque nt antecedent events, respiratory and enteric infections, have opposit e seasonality. The most frequently identified cause of GBS is Campylob acter jejuni infection, which has been identified in up to 41% of pati ents and is associated with more severe disease and prolonged disabili ty. Summer epidemics of GBS occur among children and young adults in N orthern China and are particularly likely to be associated with C. jej uni infection.